Inhibition of fatty acid synthase-dependent neoplastic lipogenesis as the mechanism of gamma-linolenic acid-induced toxicity to tumor cells: an extension to Nwankwo's hypothesis

gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA), an essential omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) is an attractive concept as anticancer agent because it exerts selective cytotoxic on human breast cancer cells without affecting normal cells. This selective toxicity has been identified to be due, at least in part, to the production of lipid peroxides and free radicals. Interestingly, a novel hypothesis for GLA-induced tumor cell toxicity has recently been proposed. GLA, through a molecular mechanism involving the lipogenic enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS), coordinately interrupts the pathways that replenish the pools of metabolic intermediates in the citric acid cycle (cellular anaplerosis). First, supraphysiological concentrations of GLA inhibit glycolysis, while a cytochrome P450-dependent epoxidation of GLA generates epoxides metabolites for GLA that would mimic the inhibitory action of standard FAS inhibitors such as cerulenin and C75. Second, GLA-epoxide inhibits FAS activity, thus resulting in the accumulation of cytosolic malonyl-CoA which, in turn, inhibits carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT-I) and prevents FA oxidation. The recent characterization of GLA as a novel regulator of FAS expression in breast cancer cells supports and further expands this hypothesis, and directly involves FAS-dependent de novo fatty acid synthesis as the mechanism of GLA-induced toxicity to tumor cells. We hypothesize that, at low (physiological) concentrations, the inhibitory effect of GLA on FAS-regulated breast cancer cell survival is not specific and is due to cell toxicity caused by lipid peroxidation. Taking into account that the inhibitory effect of FAs on the expression of FAS in cultured hepatocytes has been shown to be related to a non-specific peroxidative mechanism, a similar GLA-dependent FAS regulatory mechanism involving peroxidative products may occur in normal and neoplastic tissues. At high (supraphysiological) concentrations of GLA, the specific downregulation of FAS gene expression leads to accumulation of the substrate for FAS, malonyl-CoA, that, as a result of FAS blockade, continue to be generated by the rate-limiting enzyme of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway acetyl-CoA carboxilase, which is not inhibited in the absence of FAS-catalyzed long chain endogenous fatty acids. Physiologically, the elevated levels of malonyl-CoA occurring during FA biosynthesis reduce FA oxidation to prevent a futile cycle of simultaneous FA synthesis and degradation. Paradoxically, high-dose GLA treatments of FAS-overexpressing breast cancer cells will promote malonyl-CoA-induced inhibition of CPT-I and FA oxidation, thus precipitating an energy crisis that triggers decreased proliferation or apoptotic cell death. In summary, this working model presents the concept that the breast cancer adaptation in FAS expression can be exploited to develop GLA-based dietary interventions aimed at altering the FA synthesis pathway, which appears to be linked to neoplastic transformation and is associated with tumor virulence and adverse clinical outcome in a subset of human breast carcinomas.     

人脂肪酸合成酶启动子在乳腺癌细胞中的转录活性分析

目的分析人脂肪酸合成酶（FAS）启动子在乳腺癌细胞中的转录活性,并与cerbB2启动子、midkine启动子相比较,为其乳腺癌靶向基因治疗提供依据。方法Western blot和间接免疫荧光法检测FAS蛋白在3种人乳腺癌细胞系SKBR3、MCF-7、MDA-MB-231以及正常成纤维细胞系NIH3T3中的表达。构建pGL3-FAS、pGL3-cerbB2和pGL3-midkine荧光素酶表达载体,并分析其在SKBR3、MCF-7、MDA-MB-231和NIH3T3细胞系中的相对转录活性。结果FAS蛋白在3种乳腺癌细胞系中均有表达,其中在SKBR3细胞中表达量最高,在MDA-MB-231细胞中表达量最低,而在正常成纤维细胞系NIH3T3中不表达。FAS蛋白主要定位于细胞质。FAS启动子在3种乳腺癌细胞系中均具有较强的转录活性,转录活性明显高于强启动子SV40和肿瘤特异性启动子midkine;而在正常成纤维细胞中,转录活性很低。FAS启动子在cerbB2高表达的SKBR3细胞中转录活性最高,与cerbB2启动子相当;在cerbB2表达较弱的MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞中的转录活性则明显高于cerbB2启动子。结论FAS启动子在乳腺癌细胞中具有强转录活性,较cerbB2启动子作用范围更广,较midkine启动子转录活性更高,而在正常细胞中转录活性很低,具有良好的乳腺癌靶向性,可作为乳腺癌广谱基因治疗的靶向工具。     

Fatty acid synthase-catalyzed de novo fatty acid biosynthesis: from anabolic-energy-storage pathway in normal tissues to jack-of-all-trades in cancer cells

In 1994, Kuhajda and colleagues unambiguously identified the oncogenic antigen-519, a prognostic molecule found in breast cancer patients with markedly worsened prognosis, as fatty acid synthase (FAS),the key enzyme for the de novo fatty acid biosynthesis. It now appears that human carcinomas and their pre-neoplastic lesions constitutively over express FAS and undergo significant endogenous fatty acid biosynthesis. Moreover, FAS blockade specifically induces apoptotic cancer cell death and prolongs survival of cancer xenograft hosts. Therefore, FAS signaling seems to play a central role in the maintenance of the malignant phenotype by enhancing cancer cell survival and proliferation. This review documents the rapidly changing perspectives on the function of FAS in cancer biology. First, we describe molecular mechanism by which aberrant transduction cascades driven by oncogenic changes subvert the down-regulatory effects of dietary fatty acids, resulting in tumor-associated FAS insensitivity to nutritional signals. Second, we speculate von the putative function that hypoxia can play as the epigenetic factor that triggers and maintains FAS overexpression in cancer cells by inducing changes in gene expression and in metabolism for survival. Third, we explore the role that FAS exhibits in cancer evolution by specifically regulating cancer-related proteins such as Her-2/neu oncogene and estrogen receptor. Finally, we reveal previously unrecognized functions of FAS on the response of cancer cells to chemo-,endocrine-,and immuno therapies. These findings, all together, should ultimately enhance our understanding of how FAS-dependent endogenous fatty acid metabolism, once considered a minor anabolic-energy-storage pathway in normal cells, has become a jack-of-all-trades in cancer cells.     

Fatty acid metabolism as a target for obesity treatment

Although metabolites and energy balance have long been known to play roles in the regulation of food intake, the potential role of fatty acid metabolism in this process has been considered only recently. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) catalyzes the condensation of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to generate long-chain fatty acids in the cytoplasm, while the breakdown of fatty acids (beta-oxidation) occurs in mitochondria and is regulated by carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1), the rate-limiting step for the entry of fatty acids into the mitochondria. Inhibition of FAS using cerulenin or synthetic FAS inhibitors such as C75 reduces food intake and induces profound reversible weight loss. Subsequent studies reveal that C75 also stimulates CPT-1 and increases beta-oxidation. Hypotheses as to the mechanisms by which C75 and cerulenin mediate their effects have been proposed. Centrally, these compounds alter the expression profiles of feeding-related neuropeptides, often inhibiting the expression of orexigenic peptides. Whether through centrally mediated or peripheral mechanisms, C75 also increases energy consumption, which contributes to weight loss. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that at least part of C75's effects is mediated by modulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a known peripheral energy-sensing kinase. Collectively, these data suggest a role for fatty acid metabolism in the perception and regulation of energy balance.     

Silencing of the icb-1 gene inhibits the induction of differentiation-associated genes by vitamin D3 and all-trans retinoic acid in gynecological cancer cells

Icb-1 (C1orf38) is a human gene initially described by our group to be involved in differentiation processes of cancer cells. To further elucidate the function of the icb-1 gene in differentiation of breast and endometrial cancer cells, we knocked down its expression by means of shRNA transfection. Knockdown of icb-1 inhibited the vitamin D3-induced up-regulation of E-cadherin expression in both MCF-7 and HEC-1B cells. Induction of E-cadherin expression by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was also blocked in both cell lines expressing icb-1 siRNA. Examination of icb-1 and E-cadherin expression in 66 breast cancer tissue samples revealed a significant positive correlation between the two genes. In MCF-7 cells, silencing of the icb-1 gene inhibited the ATRA- and the vitamin D3-induced up-regulation of lactoferrin and estrogen receptor β expression. The data of our knockdown study suggest that icb-1 may act as a mediator of differentiation signals in breast cancer cells induced by ATRA or vitamin D3. These findings together with the observed co-expression of icb-1 with E-cadherin in breast cancer samples support an important role of the icb-1 gene in cancer cell differentiation.     

Gene transfer of Chlorella vulgaris n-3 fatty acid desaturase optimizes the fatty acid composition of human breast cancer cells

Chlorella vulgaris has the gene of n-3 fatty acid desaturase (CvFad3), which can synthesize the precursor of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or convert n-6 to n-3 PUFAs. The objective of the present study was to examine whether the CvFad3 gene from C. vulgaris can be functionally and efficiently expressed in human breast cancer cells and whether its expression can exert a significant effect on cell fatty acid composition. We inserted the CvFad3 gene into the plasmid pEGFP-C3 to construct the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C3-n-3 and to express the n-3 Fad gene in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells). Transfection of MCF-7 cells with the recombinant vector resulted in a high expression of n-3 fatty acid desaturase. Lipid analysis indicated that the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs was decreased from 6:1 in the control cells to about 1:1 in the cells expressing the n-3 fatty acid desaturase. Accordingly, the CvFad3 gene significantly decreased the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs of the MCF-7 cell membrane. The expression of the CvFad3 gene can decrease cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis. This study demonstrates that the CvFad3 gene can dramatically balance the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs and may provide an effective approach to the modification of the fatty acid composition of mammalian cells, also providing a basis for potential applications of its transfer in experimental and clinical settings.     

The central administration of C75, a fatty acid synthase inhibitor, activates sympathetic outflow and thermogenesis in interscapular brown adipose tissue

The present work investigated the participation of interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT), which is an important site for thermogenesis, in the anti-obesity effects of C75, a synthetic inhibitor of fatty acid synthase (FAS). We report that a single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of C75 induced hypophagia and weight loss in fasted male Wistar rats. Furthermore, C75 induced a rapid increase in core body temperature and an increase in heat dissipation. In parallel, C75 stimulated IBAT thermogenesis, which was evidenced by a marked increase in the IBAT temperature that preceded the rise in the core body temperature and an increase in the mRNA levels of uncoupling protein-1. As with C75, an i.c.v. injection of cerulenin, a natural FAS inhibitor, increased the core body and IBAT temperatures. The sympathetic IBAT denervation attenuated all of the thermoregulatory effects of FAS inhibitors as well as the C75 effect on weight loss and hypophagia. C75 induced the expression of Fos in the paraventricular nucleus, preoptic area, dorsomedial nucleus, ventromedial nucleus, and raphé pallidus, all of which support a central role of FAS in regulating IBAT thermogenesis. These data indicate a role for IBAT in the increase in body temperature and hypophagia that is induced by FAS inhibitors and suggest new mechanisms explaining the weight loss induced by these compounds.     

Immunohistochemical expression of human erythrocyte glucose transporter and fatty acid synthase in infiltrating breast carcinomas and adjacent typical/atypical hyperplastic or normal breast tissue.

To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of GLUT1, human erythrocyte glucose transporter 1, and fatty acid synthase (FAS), 66 human breast carcinomas and adjacent peritumoral tissue were studied. GLUT1 and FAS were expressed in 53 and 61 carcinomas, in 17 and 14 typical/atypical hyperplastic tissues, and in 16 and 13 tissues adjacent to tumor normal breast tissue, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed association between invasive carcinomas, invasive carcinomas with in situ component and GLUT1 immunostaining. GLUT1 staining was associated with tumor grade, FAS with tumor stage, and GLUT1 and FAS coexpression with tumor grade. Controls expressed no immunostaining. GLUT1 and FAS are new markers involved in the biologic activities of cancer cells. GLUT1 and FAS coexpression may indicate increased use of energy by the neoplastic cells correlated with poorly differentiated features and aggressive behavior. The innovative finding that GLUT1 and FAS are observed in mammary carcinoma adjacent nonneoplastic tissues may suggest a role in detecting initial phases of breast carcinogenesis.     

Altered HLA-A2-restricted TP53 epitope induces specific CTL cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma

High-frequency mutation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene is observed in multiple human cancers, which promotes cancer progression. However, the mutated gene-encoded protein may serve as a tumor antigen to elicit tumor-specific immune responses. In this study, we detected widespread expression of shared TP53-Y220C neoantigen in hepatocellular carcinoma with low affinity and low stability of binding to HLA-A0201 molecules. We substituted the amino acid sequences VVPCEPPEV with VLPCEPPEV in the TP53-Y220C neoantigen to yield a TP53-Y220C (L2) neoantigen. This altered neoantigen was found to increase affinity and stability and induce more cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), indicating improvements in immunogenicity. In vitro assays showed the cytotoxicity of CTLs stimulated by both TP53-Y220C and TP53-Y220C (L2) neoantigens against multiple HLA-A0201-positive cancer cells expressing TP53-Y220C neoantigens; however, the TP53-Y220C (L2) neoantigen showed higher cytotoxicity than the TP53-Y220C neoantigen against cancer cells. More importantly, in vivo assays demonstrated greater inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by TP53-Y220C (L2) neoantigen-specific CTLs relative to TP53-Y220C neoantigen in zebrafish and nonobese diabetic/severe combined immune deficiency mouse models. The results of this study demonstrate enhanced immunogenicity of the shared TP53-Y220C (L2) neoantigen, which has the potential as dendritic cells or peptide vaccines for multiple cancers.     

沉默Notch1基因促进人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞JNK1和p53磷酸化

 目的：探究沉默Notch1基因对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞JNK1和p53磷酸化的影响。方法：选取人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞作为研究对象,构建shRNA-Notch1真核表达质粒用于转染MCF-7细胞使Notch1基因沉默。采用Western blotting方法检测MCF-7细胞Notch1、Hes-1、PUMA和NOXA蛋白的表达,JNK1和p53蛋白磷酸化水平以及caspase-3活化水平的改变。应用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡和线粒体膜电位的变化。结果：人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞Notch1基因被沉默后,Notch1和Hes-1蛋白表达量明显减少(P<0.01),细胞凋亡率显著升高(P<0.01),JNK1和p53的磷酸化水平明显高于对照组(P<0.01),PUMA和NOXA表达量显著升高(P<0.05),cleaved caspase-3蛋白明显多于对照组(P<0.01),线粒体膜电位明显下降(P<0.05)。结论：沉默Notch1基因可能通过激活JNK1信号通路活化p53,促进PUMA和NOXA蛋白表达,进而通过线粒体途径导致人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞凋亡。     

Possible association of thioredoxin and p53 in breast cancer

Expression of thioredoxin (TRX), a dithiol-reducing enzyme, and mutations of p53 have been detected in various cancer tissues. We recently reported that TRX-dependent redox regulation plays a crucial role in DNA binding activity of p53. In this study, we investigated the possibility of functional association between TRX and p53 in breast cancer. First, we examined the expression of TRX and mutated p53 in 100 primary breast cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry. Expression of TRX was detected in cases of 84/100 (84%) and expression of p53, which means existence of mutated p53, in cases of 63/100 (63%). TRX positive cases was 89% (56/63) in mutant p53 positive cases. Next, we examined the expression of TRX and p53 in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells after CDDP treatment or irradiation. CDDP treatment or irradiation augmented expression of TRX and p53 in MCF-7 cells by western blotting. Immunofluorescence cell analysis by confocal microscopy showed that CDDP treatment induced translocation of TRX into nuclei. These results suggest the possible association of TRX with p53-dependent function including DNA repair in breast cancer.     

In vitro cytotoxic potential of friedelin in human MCF-7 breast cancer cell: Regulate early expression of Cdkn2a and pRb1, neutralize mdm2-p53 amalgamation and functional stabilization of p53

We aimed to explore the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of friedelin on breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cytotoxic effect of friedelin on MCF-7 cells was analyzed using MTT, cell and nuclear morphology. The apoptosis mechanism of friedelin on MCF-7 cells was analyzed using real-time PCR. Friedelin potentially inhibit 78% of MCF-7 cell’s growth, the IC₅₀ value was 1.8 μM in 24 h and 1.2 μM in 48 h. Friedelin increased ROS significantly and DNA damage was confirmed by tunel assay. We found characteristically 52% apoptotic cells and 6% necrotic cells in PI, AO/ErBr staining after 48 h treatment with 1.2 μM of friedelin. Apoptosis was confirmed by significantly (p ≤ 0.001) increased tumor suppressor gene Cdkn1a, pRb2, p53, Nrf2, caspase-3 and decreased Bcl-2, mdm2 & PCNA expression after 48 h. In conclusion, friedelin effectively inhibit breast cancer MCF-7 cell growth, it was associated with early expression of Cdkn1a, pRb2 and activation of p53 and caspases.     

ER阳性和ER阴性人乳腺癌细胞株p53,mdm—2及p21^WAF1蛋白表达…

目的 研究ＥＲ阳性和ＥＲ阴性人乳腺癌细胞株ｐ５３、ｍｄｍ－２和ｐ２１＾ＷＡＦ１蛋白的表达及其与细胞生物学特性的关系。方法 应用细胞培养、基因转染和免疫组化染色ＬＳＡＢ法等技术，检测ＥＲ阳性、表达野生型ｐ５３（ｗｔｐ５３）蛋白的ＭＣＦ－７细胞和ＥＲ阴性、表达突变型ｐ５３（ｍｔｐ５３）和ＭＤＡ－ＭＢ－２３１细胞以及ＥＲ转染阳性ＭＤＡ－ＭＢ－２３１细胞中ｐ５３、ｍｎｍ－２和ｐ２１＾ＷＡＦ１蛋白的表达水平     

iASPP对表达野生型p53基因的乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7凋亡的影响

目的： P53凋亡刺激蛋白（ASPP）家族成员能够调节P53诱导的细胞凋亡。其中ASPP家族抑制成员(iASPP)主要通过特异性地和P53蛋白结合抑制肿瘤细胞的凋亡,本实验通过构建iASPP的RNAi质粒,研究在体内外抑制iASPP基因后对表达野生型p53基因的乳腺癌细胞MCF-7凋亡的影响。方法: 采用分子生物学方法构建iASPP的腺病毒RNAi质粒pAd-iASPP-RNAi;体外转染MCF-7细胞,同时建立MCF-7细胞的裸鼠移植瘤模型;分别采用RT-PCR和Western blotting检测转染后瘤细胞iASPP mRNA和蛋白质表达的变化;采用流式细胞术检测转染前后瘤细胞凋亡的变化。结果: 转染iASPP RNAi后,MCF-7细胞的iASPP mRNA及蛋白表达量降低（抑制率分别为95.4%和96.8%,P<0.01）;MCF-7细胞的凋亡百分率、坏死百分率与对照组相比具有显著差异（P<0.01）。裸鼠移植瘤模型经pAd-iASPP-RNAi处理后,iASPP mRNA及蛋白表达量也明显降低（抑制率分别为87.4%和89.2%,P<0.01）;移植瘤细胞的凋亡百分率和坏死百分率显著上升（P<0.01和P<0.05）。结论: 在体内外抑制iASPP基因的表达能够通过p53途径诱导表达野生型p53的乳腺癌细胞凋亡。     

干扰HTERT降低人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞对γ射线引起的DNA损伤反应

 目的 研究HTERT RNA干扰对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞γ射线照射引起的DNA损伤反应的影响。方法 通过逆转录病毒为载体的HTERT-siRNA,抑制人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞中端粒酶催化亚单位HTERT表达,实时定量RT-PCR及Western blot确认HTERT表达水平、用137Cs放射源以3 Gy剂量γ射线照射细胞,于照射前以及照射后1、2、4、8和12h收集细胞,采用磷酸化53BP1 抗体进行免疫荧光染色,并于照射前、照射后1、4和12h收集细胞,Western blot检测53BP1蛋白磷酸化水平。结果 HTERT-siRNA处理的细胞HTERT表达水平比对照细胞降低3.20 (2-△△Ct)倍, HTERT蛋白水平降低2.56倍。HTERT-siRNA处理的细胞对γ射线引起的DNA损伤反应显著降低。结论 RNA干扰HTERT表达水平,可以降低人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞对γ射线照射引起的DNA损伤反应。